Hormone link to ECT side effects
BBC News
20 September, 2001
Measuring the levels of a hormone could help doctors decide whether it is safe to give a patient electro-convulsive therapy (ECT).
ECT is a controversial treatment used to relieve the symptoms of severe depression.
There is evidence that it is effective at relieving these symptoms in many cases.
But some of those who have undergone the treatment claim they have suffered long-lasting cognitive side effects including memory loss, mood swings and recurrent head-aches.
Now, a team of scientists, led by Thomas Neylan, from the University of California in San Francisco, has found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol might indicate which patients will suffer most from these side-effects.
Serious consequences
ECT is carried out under anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant is administered to patients to prevent the muscle spasms that the treatment would otherwise cause.
If susceptibility to these side effects can be predicted it is important to know
Alison Cobb, Mind
Dr Neylan said: “Most people, if not all, will have short-term cognitive side effects following ECT, but in some people these effects can last much longer with serious consequences.”
In his study, Dr Neylan took saliva samples from 16 patients, all of whom had consented to ECT, before treatment to test levels of the hormone cortisol.
The patients also underwent tests to assess their mood, cognitive functioning and memory before and after the treatment.
The results found that the higher the base level of cortisol in each patient, the higher the cognitive impairment after ECT.
These preliminary results, although only based on a small study, could provide doctors with valuable information when deciding whether or not a patient suffering from severe depression should undergo electro-convulsive therapy.
Alison Cobb, from Mind, told BBC News Online: “Memory loss is one of the main side effects that people can have from ECT and it can be permanent.
“In a recent survey carried out by Mind, 42% of respondents reported loss of past memories as a permanent side effect, 36 per cent difficulty in concentrating and 27 per cent inability to remember new information.
“If susceptibility to these side effects can be predicted it is important to know.”
She added that the patient’s own opinion should be one of the most important issues when decisions about ECT are made.
No-one, she said, should be forced to undergo ECT against their will.
Categories: ECT Side Effects
Derar Sir/Madam,
I have had many ect’s when i was still a boy of 3 year old. Do you know if there is a relation with ect and impotention?
I hope you can answer, because i am very frustrated about this “possible” side-effect.
Yours faithfully,
T,. Vink
I haven’t heard of this side effect, but it’s possible it’s been reported and I just have never heard of it. Are you taking any medications that might cause this? Many of today’s antidepressants cause impotence. BTW, where are you at that you would have had ECT at age 3? That’s horrible.
Juli
All my life I have had a mother with severe mental problems in the form of depression and wild mood swings.
The effects have been devastating on our family and friends leading to problems such as rifts, depression of others and alcoholism to name but a few.
Up until recently I had always accepted the reality of living with a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ mother who can literally jump from being sweet and kind to pure evil in a heartbeat. However after recently finding out she suffered from post natal depression after the birth of my elder brother and was given ECT therapy without consent or proper teaching about possible long term side effects, I want some answers.
I’ve read that having such therapy when a hormonal balance is present can increase the risk of mood swings so would appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction to talk to someone about this.
Thanks for your time
D Sturdy
UK
I’m just not sure what to believe. At the age ovf 42 I underwent ect for 9 mounths 3 times a week. The firsr months later I walked around like a zombie. My memory got better but i still dont rember a lot of things. At times I have to ask my 12 year old daughter how to spell a word. sometimes a hear very soft music and cant fint the sourse. When i drive, i experience very sort lapses of concentration and find mysesf having some close calls. I dont drive my children because of my concern and are consiidering noy driving at all because i dont want to take a chance of hurting anyone. I am 49 now.
Please help
Kevin Heffernan
Biddeford ME
I am 35 and have up till now received 40 ect sessions over the last few years and I can relate very well with what you are talking about. I also have had the driving troubles and hear the music. I still have problems with depression and experience manic episodes as well. You might want to think about adding an Adult deficit disorder med. to your current meds. to help with your concentration, I take concerta, but they have several now. With my treatments I lost about 5 to 7 years of my memory that’s just kind of swiss cheese. But I look at like this. I was living day to day feeling like the world was kicked out from under me just wanting to die. And I may have lost memories, but at least I felt better enough after ect, to actually want to make new ones. If you ever feel like crap and I know my meds need to be adjusted and it is gonna be time soon for me to play the bride of frankestein and get a few zaps myselfl. But if you ever need to vent